Work Text:
He eventually sits up, unable to do anything with his hands still cuffed behind his back. He couldn’t call Tubbo or Ranboo, no not them. Sam?
He shakes his head, Tommy doesn’t want to bother him with this. He’ll figure something out, he always does. He tries to think of a solution but comes up with nothing. He can feel his ear buzzing but doesn’t have the courage to answer knowing who's on the other end.
So he opts to ignore it, just placing his chin on his knees and thinks. He sits there for a while just . . . thinking. He knew that the villains could return at any second, a part of them wished they did. Then maybe something would happen.
He doesn’t know how long he’s been sitting here, wallowing in his self-pity, but it felt like forever. A couple of birds have landed near him but never close enough for Tommy to reach out. He fiddles with his fingers, watching the city below.
He really should call someone
A small crash makes him tense, he gets to his feet putting his useless hands in front of him. A stark black feather floats towards him in the breeze landing at his feet. Tommy freezes and watches as Kali comes out from the shadows.
He tries to summon his powers, a small pathetic spark coming out. He watches Kali huff with amusement. He moves closer, Tommy stepping back, his legs hitting the ledge. “What do you want?” “What? Can’t a guy just have a chat with someone?”
Something was lingering in the air, Tommy could feel it. Looking at Kali, it looks like nothing is wrong. Like he said, just a guy wanting a chat. Well, Tommy wasn’t gonna give him that.
“Look, if you don’t mind,” he gestures around him, “I’m trying to wallow here, could you just fuck off perhaps?” Tommy shivers, that feeling returning. It hits him like a brick, eyes widening.
“Where is he?” Kali tilts his head, “Where’s who?” “Ichor, I can fucking feel him Phil .” His stance shifts, anger playing over his features. Another shift behind him catches Tommy’s eye. Just as he suspected, Ichor steps out from the shadows.
Anger doesn't plague his features, it’s just a neutral stare. A stare that creeps Tommy the fuck out, shuddering he realizes how fucked he is. Ichor takes a step towards him, Tommy tenses having nowhere to go.
“Don’t make me throw you off a building, y’know, again.” Tommy flinches, “Yea, thanks for reminding me dickhead.” He shrugs, “Just saying, keep threatening Phi-Kali,” he narrows his eyes at Tommy, “you’ll see what happens.”
Kali places a hand on Ichor’s shoulder, “Remember why we’re here.” They both turn to Tommy and start walking toward him, “H-hey, what the fuck are you-” Ichor grabs him turning him and pressing Tommy’s back against his chest.
Tommy struggles, using his head to try and headbutt Ichor. He takes his free hand, weaving his fingers through Tommy’s hair before pulling. Tommy winces, the back of his head resting on Ichor’s shoulder. Kali approaches him, Tommy gritting his teeth.
“This would have gone smoother if we just brought Jubilee.” Phil hums, taking a finger and stroking his cheek, Tommy flinching. “I know but he’s in position in case this goes wrong.” He glares at Tommy, “Or if he tries anything.”
“W-why did you come back?” Ichor ignores him, “Should we re-cuff him?” Kali shakes his head, “No, we’ll give him this,” he grabs Tommy’s chin, Ichor pushing his head forward, hand still painfully in his hair.
“It was by chance we saw you still here but it’s a chance we aren’t gonna pass up. You won’t cause problems for us, right?” Despite his situation, Tommy scoff, “Fuck you” Kali cracks a smile before nodding to Ichor who shoves Tommy forward. He turns back to them, glare plastered all over his face. “You know how to play Tag, right?”
This doesn’t sound good
“What’s it to you?” Ichor laughs, “Well, we just thought it would be fun to play it.” “With me?” They both nod, Tommy glancing around, “Where’s Jubilee? And why do you mean by he’s in position?” Kali turns to Ichor, sending him a questioning look.
He shakes his head, turning to Tommy, “Listen, can’t we just enjoy a nice game of Tag?” “Why would you, villains, want to ‘play’ a game with me, a hero.” “Cause if we win, we get to kill you.”
Tommy’s heart drops into his stomach, Ichor continues, “Rules are simple, we chase you and try to take you down,” he shrugs, “or tag you, whatever you want to call it.” Kali grins, “If you are able to get to the bakery on Grave and 5th street before we ‘tag’ you then we’ll let you go.”
“If I don’t?” Ichor’s red eyes glow, Tommy tensing
Tommy’s laying on his back, a hole in his stomach. He coughs, gagging on the blood that comes up.
He shakes his head, not knowing where Ichor got it from. That doesn’t matter, he has a game of tag to get out of. He swallows his fear and levels his gaze at the two villains.
He shakes his head, “I am not playing into this. Fuck off and leave me alone.” Kali shakes his head, “You don’t have a choice,” Ichor shrugs, “we could kill you right now if you don’t want to play.” Tommy shudders, the memory coming back.
Tommy watches himself choke on blood before shaking his head, shaking, “Fine, I’ll play.” Ichor smirks, Kali’s wings puffing up. They part, letting Tommy see the city in front of him, he brings up his wrists, “I still have to wear these?”
Ichor nods, “Yes, now go, we’ll give you a 20 second head start.” Tommy scoffs, “Wait! That's not fair, take them off.” Kali dangles the keys, “You’ll get them if you win, now run.”
Tommy looks Ichor who starts counting down
20
Tommy runs past the two, jumping onto the next building, rolling onto his shoulder, popping back up and running again
19
He prays to prime he’s fast enough, he can get some distance
18
He doesn’t even know if they’ll hold to 20 seconds, maybe just count to 10 and take off after him
17
He doesn’t look behind him, just continues to run, ignoring his building as he passes it. He has a game to win
16
He tries to remember where the bakery is, faint memories of him, Tubbo and Ranboo float up. He smiles
15
He trips, falling and skidding across the concrete of the roof he’s on. He hits his head. He doesn’t get up for a minute.
14
13
12
He slowly lifts his head, a warm feeling coating his arms. He turns and sits, lifting his arms he can see blood on them. He sighs then lays back down. He jolts back up the game . He takes off again
11
10
He doesn’t know how much time has passed. He takes a peek behind him, the faint outline of the two still standing there. He turns back and runs for his life
9
He’s panicking
8
He can’t remember
7
Fuck, where is this bakery
6
He starts apologizing to Tubbo, to Ranboo, to everyone. He doesn’t think he’s coming home tonight
5
He could call them, he brings his hands to his ear tapping it twice. He listens to the buzzing before he’s pushed off his feet.
He flies off the building, landing hard on a fire escape platform.
4
He looks up, Jubilee staring down at him, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t try anything, little hero. Times almost up, you better get moving.” He disappears again.
3
He brings his head up, feeling the now broken earpiece fall out of his ear.
2
He thinks for a sec, he knows he won’t be able to outrun them. He then nods to himself, plan in mind he stands climbing back up.
1
He hears a whoosh and his heart drops. He turns just to see Kali take off flying towards him, Ichor running right below him. He starts running, plan in mind.
He hears a pair of footsteps not far behind him, signaling Jubilee has joined the chase. He can hear his feet hitting the pavement, the sound grounding him enough to stay focused.
“Sparkyyy” Ichor’s voice sends shivers down his spine. He dodges pipes, loose concrete and even Kali and he swoops down trying to grab Tommy.
He trips a couple times, everytime sending a jolt into his heart. He dodges Jubilee as well, the small feeling of him grabbing his hoodie sending him into a panic.
He decides that he can’t just avoid the inevitable so he quickly whirls around and punches in the general direction that Jubilee was. He doesn’t exactly hit his target.
Don’t get him wrong, he didn’t miss he never misses but he didn’t hit the right target. He only sees a flash of pink hair and blood before he’s gone again. With the feeling of fear lingering on his brain, he pushes himself,
It feels like he’s getting closer and prays to Prime that he is. He can feel his legs burning and his chest getting tight. He honestly can’t decide if that’s anxiety or the fact that he hasn’t gotten a good amount of air lately.
He wants to get away, to go home, to his friends his family . He didn’t want to risk their lives if he tried so he pushed himself faster. He saw a small bakery tucked in between two buildings and his heart leapt. He jumped off the next building, sliding down the fire escape as two out the three people chasing him follow.
He darted across the street, ignoring the honks and yells of the drivers he ran in front of. He keeps running, paying attention to road signs and hoping he’s right.
As he approaches the next intersection he looks up and the signs in between the traffic lights.
One read
5th Street
A smile forms on his face as he looks at the other
Grove Street
He quickly gets to the bakery, scaling the building then promptly collapses against the wall. He breathes heavily as the three villains land around him, he smiles, “I win.” Jubilee bends down next to him, “Just barely, you’re lucky we don’t just kill you for jumping to the street.”
Tommy laughs, not caring at the threat being given, “I still won motherfuckers. Now piss off, that was the deal.” Ichor wipes his nose, blood staining his hands, stepping forward.
Kali places a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head but Ichor shrugs him off, pushing Jubilee away. He kneels next to Tommy who is struggling to stay awake, the past 15 minutes of running catching up with him.
He grabs Tommy’s chin, “I don’t care if you won, I could still kill you. Just like that image I sent you.” Tommy sucks in a breath, the action sending a burning through his lungs, he winces. “ Ichor ,” Kali shakes his head, “ a deal was a deal. Move.”
He obeys, moving so Kali can then kneel. He pulls, none to gently, at Tommy’s wrists. Tommy starts involuntarily shaking, his head dropping forward. A hand goes through his hair and pushes it back.
He feels the weight of the cuffs leave him then gasps at the feeling of his powers returning. He hears a small zap then swearing. He chuckles, “Dumb fucks.” He’s still shaking when Kali stands, “Consider yourself lucky tonight. Next time, you won’t be.”
Tommy scoffs, “Yea sure, whatever you say old man.” Jubilee snorts before covering it with a poorly executed cough. Tommy then watches them leave, just like that.
It almost seems too real to be true. He cautiously stands, ignoring him swaying. He checks around for them before climbing back down the building. He doesn’t walk back to his apartment, he calls a taxi.
The driver looks concerned but Tommy hands him money and his concern leaves this guy's face so fast that Tommy doubts it was ever there. When the guy drops him off, he stumbles up to his floor.
Knocking on the door, Ranboo opens it and he collapses into their arms. He doesn’t remember all of what happened next but he remembers flashes of Ranboo carrying him inside and laying him down.
He gets flashes of Tubbo and Ranboo checking him over, rubbing cream on his wrists and just talking to him then talk over him. He’ll tell them what happened, he will. Just not tonight, tomorrow when it doesn’t feel like he’s gonna die. Right now, he’s gonna sleep. Yea, that would be nice, sleep
He closes his eyes to Tubbo sitting by his bed, Ranboo disappearing out his door. He smiles at Tubbo and, with his eyes closing, says, “You are not gonna believe the night I’ve had.”
He then passes out, leaving Tubbo confused and a bit concerned. When Ranboo comes back to the sight, Tubbo can only shrug. Tommy giggles in his sleep and it freaks them both out.
What the fuck happened tonight? Tubbo’s not sure he wants to know but he guesses that they’re gonna find out either way. Right now, they have to deal with Tommy randomly giggling during the night.
Needless to say, they don’t sleep well that night